Pilipinto: The Jungle Adventures of a Missionary’s Daughter (Valerie Elliot Shepard)

Pilipinto:

The Jungle Adventures of a Missionary’s Daughter

In 1956, Valerie’s young missionary father, Jim Elliot, and four of his friends make contact with members of a primitive Ecuadorian tribe. What happens next shocks the world! Three years later . . . Valerie is just a toddler when her mother, Elisabeth Elliot, receives a surprising invitation. As she teaches the Waorani about God’s “carvings,” they encounter the greatest gift of all.

Pilipinto is an amazing story of courage and redemption—but it is also the simple story of a young American girl as she grows up alongside the indigenous peoples of the 1950s Amazon jungle. The jungle, despite its dangers, becomes a delightful playground where Valerie learns to trust God’s hand and respect all His gifts.

Beautifully illustrated in watercolor and featuring vintage photographs and never before published pages from Elisabeth Elliot’s diary, Pilipinto is a child-appropriate introduction to several notable Christian heroes and heroines of the twentieth century—powerful models of faith who take selfless action for the kingdom of God.

Endorsements

“Young ones will learn about the Elliot family and their global influence, not only on the people of an ancient tribe but on Christians around the world. Thank you, Valerie, for telling your family’s remarkable story to yet another generation.”

–Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

“Walk the trails with danger at every turn, join the tribe along with Valerie, and see firsthand how God embraces and encourages his loved ones. Valerie shares her heartwarming reminiscences with us in an engaging story that is perfect for family reading.”

–Donna Otto, Founder, Modern Homemakers

“Pilipinto is a gorgeously illustrated story of God’s presence in hard times and his grace in extraordinary jungle adventures, infused by Val’s sunny personality and bright faith.”

–Ellen Vaughn, Author, Becoming Elisabeth Elliot

About the Author:

Valerie Elliot Shepard is the only child of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, missionaries to the Quichua and Auca Indians (now called “Waodani, which means “the people”) of the Amazon rain forest. Her father and four other men were speared to death in 1956 as they sought to reach the Aucas with the gospel. After Jim’s death, Elisabeth and Valerie continued to live with the Quichuas until they were invited to live with the tribe that had killed Jim. They ministered to the Aucas for two years as Elisabeth and another missionary, Rachel Saint, learned to speak the language and shared the story of Jesus with them. Many Aucas converted to Christ as a result.

Valerie returned with her mother to the United States in 1963 and married Walter Shepard. Walt and Valerie have eight children. They currently reside in Long Beach, Mississippi.